thread_test_while_versus_sleep.py

import threading
from time import sleep, time
from itertools import count


class WorkThread(threading.Thread):
    """Thread class with a stop() method. The thread itself has to check
    regularly for the stopped() condition."""

    def __init__(self):
        super(WorkThread, self).__init__(target=self.target)
        self._stop = threading.Event()

    def stop(self):
        self._stop.set()

    def stopped(self):
        return self._stop.isSet()

class Sleeps(WorkThread):
    def target(self): #... sleep and wakeup every second
        while not self.stopped():
            sleep(1)

class Whiles(WorkThread):
    def target(self): #... run until killed
        while not self.stopped():
            pass

def main_thread():  #... count hard for ten seconds
    counter = count()
    start = time()
    end = start + 10
    while end > time():
        i = next(counter)
    return i

def main():        #... print count after running main with both.
    thread1 = Sleeps()
    thread1.daemon = True
    thread1.start()
    sleep_result = main_thread()
    thread1.stop()
    thread2 = Whiles()
    thread2.daemon = True
    thread2.start()
    while_result = main_thread()
    thread2.stop()
    print('\nsleep result: ' + str(sleep_result))
    print('while result: ' + str(while_result))
    efficiency_factor = sleep_result/float(while_result)
    print('sleep allowed {0} times work\n'
          'done relative to while'.format(efficiency_factor)) 

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()